Scrum relies on transparency, adaptation, and inspection, but for them to happen, the team must ensure that the 5 Scrum values are known and respected. In a world full of new methodologies and approaches to software development, you can get lost in the multitude of options and assumptions.
Scrum, by definition, is simple and based on the following 5 values: courage, openness, respect, focus, and commitment. In the article, we will delve into the subject of commitment and see how it influences the success of a project. Are you curious as to how this particular value affects products? Read the blog post and get the most out of the Scrum framework!
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Agile Software Development
Agile methods rely on flexibility, trust, self-organization, and the ability to respond to changing circumstances. Many Agile frameworks allow you to achieve your goals, and one of the most popular in software development is Scrum. In this article, you will learn more about commitment in the context of Scrum.
The Scrum Guide 2020 on Commitment
According to the Scrum Guide, the “successful use of Scrum depends on people becoming more proficient in living five values: Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, and Courage“.
These values should lead the team and reflect on their work and actions. If you follow our blog, you have already discovered the importance of focus and respect. Scrum values are connected and cannot be applied selectively. For example, it would be a contradiction to say:
“We respect each other, but I don’t trust that one developer”.
“We trust each other, but I won’t talk openly to a Scrum Master”.
Therefore, every time we talk about a given value, we consider it in the context of others.
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Book a meetingThe Scrum Value of Commitment
In the Scrum team, everyone is equally important. Every developer creates an Increment by sharing their best skills. The team strives to deliver the most valuable work possible in each Sprint – as promised during Sprint Planning.
A mature team makes only promises they can keep, and its estimates are based on experience from past Sprints. The Scrum Master supports their efforts by promoting the use of visualization tools, presenting metrics, and building awareness of the work progress and the capabilities of team members.
The Scrum Team and Commitment
In Professional Scrum, during Sprint Planning, the team estimates how much work can be done within a given Sprint to achieve the Sprint Goal. These estimates must be realistic and in line with the capacity of the team (and not, for example, made under pressure or in response to business expectations). Commitment in Scrum means a situation where a Development Team confirms they can complete a particular number of tasks within a given Sprint. For example, a PO has chosen 5 tasks for a new Sprint and the team makes the commitment (meaning that the team accepts this goal as achievable).
However, in the event of any obstacles, dependencies, or there being too many tasks, the team can say they cannot make such a commitment (“No commitment for this scope”). In such a case, it is necessary to reduce the number of tasks or answer all questions which arise. Without a commitment, we can assume that it is impossible to complete all tasks in a Sprint.
 EXPERT KNOWLEDGE Do you know the advantages of Agile project management?How to run an agile project using Scrum? Read the article! |
The Product Owner and his role
The Product Owner’s role is to represent the interests of stakeholders and provide the Scrum Team with all essential business requirements. He is also accountable for prioritizing tasks in the Product Backlog (this is one of the Scrum artifacts – a list of ideas, requirements, and technical improvements that need to be talked about, cleared out and specified so that it is understandable).
But to do it well, the PO needs to know the capabilities and velocity of the team. Only then will he be able to plan and prioritize the Sprint Backlog, and finally enable the team to achieve the Product Goal.
Read also: Scrum Master vs Agile Coach
Commitment traps in Scrum
There are several situations in which Scrum Teams might fail at commitment. One of them is Sprint Planning e.g., too optimistic estimates.
The issue might occur while committing to a distant goal too. In the case of the latter, you need to bear in mind that in far-fetched projects, as workload and expectations change, primary assessments might not be appropriate. To avoid this trap, Product Owner needs to be careful while committing to client’s requirements very far in advance.
Summary
Every member of the development team is responsible for respecting and promoting values. The Scrum Master helps in this regard, but remember that he doesn’t shoulder all responsibility! A committed team strives to deliver the most valuable product, and everyone does their best to build a motivating work environment. This way not only does the team create working software, but it also facilitates the personal development of programmers and everyone involved in the project.
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